Mangalore: Celebrations, Protest, Cleanliness Drive Mark Women's Day in City
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Mar 8: The International Women's Day was celebrated with much gusto in various venues around the city on Thursday March 8.
At Town Hall, the zilla panchayat organnized a programme in association with state women's organization cell, Bangalore, district department for women welfare and child development, district lawyers' guild and various women empowerment groups.
Inaugurating the programme, zilla panchayat president Shailaja Bhat stressed on the need for encouraging education among women. She dwelt on the various roles played by women in their day-to-day lives and recalled that women from time immemorial have fought injustice and have succeeded in entering the mainstream with much struggle. She pointed out that education had played a major role in empowering women and making them aware of their rights in the society.
District chief judicial magistrate R V Patil spoke on the rights of women as provided by Indian law and said that the condition of women is much better in today's age than it was in the bygone years, especially within families where boys and girls are treated equally, unlike before.
Several women achievers from the district were felicitated on the occasion. 'Garbha Nirodhaka Vidhanagalu', a book by Dr Rati Devi was also released.
Anganwadi Protest
However, the programme at Town Hall was marred by a protest from Anganwadi workers who wanted to submit a memorandum stating their demands to Shakuntala, deputy director of district women welfare and child development department. They said that Shakuntala had earlier invited them to join the women's day programme and had asked them to submit the memorandum at Town Hall, but when they did so, she refused to come out and meet them until after the programme was over.
The protestors were made to wait for nearly two hours, by the end of which, the angered workers protested and decided not to submit the memorandum. Earlier, they led a silent rally from Dr Ambedkar Circle to DC's office and then to Town Hall, urging such demands like payment of honorarium.
Park Cleanliness Drive
In another part of the city, women got together to mark their special day meaningfully by carrying out a cleanliness drive in 'Vanita Vana', the only park in Mangalore exclusively for women.
The drive, organized by the MSW department of St Aloysius College and Roshni Nilaya, School of Social Work, saw enthusiastic participation by students and teachers of the two colleges. Members of Citizens' Forum were also present.
Citizens' Forum member Celine Aranha spoke on the occasion and lauded the efforts of the colleges and the students in coming forward to organize and participate in such a meaningful celebration.
She also urged those present to make efforts in preserving the beauty of the park and save it from getting encroached by land developers and builders.
St Agnes College
International Women's Day was also celebrated at St Agnes College with a workshop on 'Status of Women in India' and 'Women's Issues - Inspiring Future'.
The workshop was held in association with women's cell, women's study centre and human rights education cell.
Former president of Lioness Club Dr Kripa Alva spoke on changing times and the need for women to adapt, compete with themselves and keep pace.
Principal of the College Sr Prem D'Souza said that women should pride themselves for being blessed with qualities such as kindness, compassion and genorisity
Students and staff of the College were present.